Operation Stateline Sweep Update: Five Defendants Sentenced to a Total of Over 39 Years in Prison; Two Defendants Plead Guilty

TEXARKANA, AR—Conner Eldridge, United States Attorney for the Western District of Arkansas announced that five men were given lengthy sentences and two men pled guilty as a result of charges brought during Operation Stateline Sweep, a drug trafficking investigation that took place in 2011. Five of the individuals were part of a 190 count indictment filed in September 2011 charging 66 defendants. The Honorable Susan O. Hickey presided over the cases in federal court in Texarkana, Arkansas.

United States Attorney Eldridge commented, “This announcement represents this office’s continued commitment to prosecuting the Stateline Sweep case. Large-scale operations like this require persistence, and this office will continue to ensure that each and every defendant involved in the drug trafficking activity in this case is held responsible for his or her actions. We remain focused on investigating and prosecuting those who corrupt Texarkana and other communities by bringing drugs and illegal activity onto our streets.”

Adrian Witcher, age 34, was sentenced to 120 months’ imprisonment, three years’ supervised release, and a $100 special assessment on October 31, 2012. Witcher originally pled guilty to distribution of crack cocaine on March 2, 2012. On July 14, 2011, investigators with the Bi-State Narcotics Task Force and the FBI conducted a controlled buy where Witcher sold them 12.7 grams of crack cocaine.

Cordney Morgan, age 25, was sentenced on October 30, 2012, to 42 months’ imprisonment, three years’ supervised release, and given a special assessment of $100. Morgan pled guilty on January 25, 2012, to possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. On February 23, 2011, investigators with the Bi-States Narcotics Task Force executed a court-authorized search warrant at Morgan’s home in Texarkana where they found a semi-automatic pistol, marijuana packaged for distribution, digital scales, and over $1,000.

Fredrick Law, age 34, was sentenced on October 30, 2012, to 70 months’ imprisonment, four years’ supervised release, and a special assessment of $100. Law pled guilty on April 26, 2012, to possession with the intent to distribute more than 50 grams of methamphetamine. On November 2, 2010, investigators with the Bi-State Narcotics Task Force executed a court-authorized search warrant at Law’s residence and located 58.3 grams of methamphetamine along with other drug paraphernalia.

Marcel Johnson, age 31, was sentenced on October 31, 2012, to 100 months’ imprisonment, three years’ supervised release, and a $100 special assessment. Johnson originally pled guilty on March 2, 2012, to distribution of crack cocaine. On May 17, 2011, investigators with the South Central Drug Task Force conducted a controlled purchase of 12.13 grams of crack cocaine from Johnson in Ozan, Arkansas.

Alvin Weekly, age 31, was sentenced on November 1, 2012, to 140 months’ imprisonment, six years’ supervised release, and a special assessment of $100. Weekly pled guilty on March 2, 2012, to distribution of crack cocaine within 1,000 feet of a public school. On January 27, 2011, investigators with the Bi-State Narcotics Task Force and the FBI conducted a controlled purchase of 11.5 grams of crack cocaine from Weekly within 1,000 feet of North Heights Junior High School in Texarkana, Arkansas.

Chadwick Williams, age 33, pled guilty to conspiracy to distribute more than 280 grams of crack cocaine on October 26, 2012. On October 2, 2011, members of the Bi-State Narcotics Task Force and the FBI executed a court-authorized search warrant at Williams’s residence in Texarkana where they found 133.5 grams of cocaine in baggies, 27.8654 grams of crack cocaine, cooking utensils used to manufacture crack cocaine with cocaine residue, digital scales, drug paraphernalia, and a .45 caliber semi-automatic pistol. Williams faces up to 10 years’ imprisonment.

Patrick Cornelius, Sr, age 40, pled guilty on October 26, 2012, to distribution of more than 28 grams of crack cocaine within 100 feet of Inghram Homes, a public housing authority facility in Texarkana. On July 8, 2011, investigators with the Bi-State Narcotics Task Force and the FBI conducted a controlled buy of crack cocaine from Cornelius. Cornelius sold 81.77 grams of crack cocaine within 1,000 feet of Inghram Homes. Cornelius faces between five and 80 years’ imprisonment.

The cases were investigated by the Bi-State Narcotics Task Force, which is composed of representatives of the Texarkana, Arkansas and the Texarkana, Texas Police Departments; the Miller County Sheriff’s Office; and the FBI. Assistant United States Attorney Matthew Quinn is prosecuting the cases for the United States.